4 june 2002
peruvian farmers vote against gold
mine
protest march in
tambogrande, february 2001
Citizens of the Peruvian municipality of
Tambogrande stated loud and clear in Sunday's
referendum that they do not want the gold
under their village to be mined. Seventy
percent of Tambogrande's population (a total
of 36,000 people) voted in the referendum,
organized by the people themselves, and 98
percent of voters said 'no' to the mining
proposal. Several campaigners from Friends of
the Earth International were present during
the referendum as international
observers.
The US$315 million open-pit gold mine
planned by the Canada-based Manhattan
Minerals Corporation would rip apart the
village of Tambogrande and displace about a
third of its population. However, local
farmers are determined to protect their
agricultural livelihoods from destructive
mining activities.
“The valley used to be a desert, but over
the years irrigation and hard work have
turned it into a beautiful and fertile place
that produces lemons and mangos for national
use and for export,” said Astrid Cornejo of
Labor/Friends of the Earth Peru. “Mining in
this country, on the other hand, has hardly
brought any benefits to local
communities.”
Miriam Roseleur, who was present at the
referendum as an international observer,
maintained: “The El Niño phenomenon can bring
heavy rains here, and with it a real danger
of soil, water and air contamination. The
local people are completely justified in not
wanting to jeopardize their livelihoods for
this risky venture.”
Tambogrande is the only project of Manhattan
Mineral Corporations, an otherwise unknown
Canadian company. Resistance against the mine
has been strong from the outset. On February
27th and 28th of 2001, a total strike and
massive mobilization in Tambogrande called
for the corporation to withdraw, and the
company's encampments were destroyed. A month
later, agronomist and resistance leader
Godofredo García Baca was murdered under
suspicious circumstances. The citizens
organized the referendum in order to make it
completely clear that they do not want the
mine in their midst.
“Today was a celebration of democracy. All
of these people who came to vote voluntarily
have started a chain reaction of energy and
empowerment,” said Gloria Chicaiza of Acción
Ecologica/Friends of the Earth Ecuador, who
also observed the referendum proceedings.
“The Peruvian government and Manhattan
Minerals can not ignore the voice of these
people, who clearly want to preserve their
sustainable way of life.”
Peru has a rich history of metals mining,
and about 50 percent of its export income is
derived from mining products. However, the
local population has seen little benefit from
the mines. The Southern Peru copper mine and
even the World Bank supported Yanacocha gold
mine are just two examples of controversial
projects in the country. Their operations
have led to a wide range of serious
complaints from local communities, including
fish kills and desertification. With this
background, the people of Tambogrande have
chosen very clearly in favour of agriculture
and against mining.
“Tambogrande is an emblematic case of a
local community standing up for the right to
choose its own development model', said
Gabriel Rivas-Ducca, Friends of the Earth
International's mining coordinator.
“Recognizing the outcome of the referendum
could mean a significant step in the
direction of more democratic and sustainable
societies.”
Read more
and see photos of the referendum
Contacts:
Astrid Cornejo and Miriam Roseleur (FoE
Peru): tel: +51 1 2616515
Gloria Chicaiza (FoE Ecuador): tel: 593 2
547516
Janneke Bruil (FoEI): tel: 31 20 6221369
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